Spring receptacle contact and housing therefor

ABSTRACT

A spring receptacle contact and a housing therefor, the contact including a pair of resilient cantilever spring fingers which cooperate to provide a receptacle. The fingers are each provided with a button compressibly engaged on opposed sides of a housing recess into which the spring contact is inserted. The contact is further provided with a tab in spaced relationship from a pair of flaps. Together, the tab and flaps are crimped over an electrical post which projects from the housing recess. The receptacle contact is further provided with an elongated embossed base which terminates in a generally T-shaped end portion which seats laterally within the housing recess. Such end portion additionally carries a tine which abuts against a shoulder in the housing to prevent withdrawal of the contact receptacle. A pair of diagonally projecting levers compressibly engage against a side of the housing recess for seating the longitudinal base of the receptacle contact laterally against an opposed side of the housing recess. Additionally, the levers abut against a shoulder provided in the housing recess to lock the recess to lock the receptacle contact therein. To remove the receptacle contact, a suitable tool is inserted into the housing recess for resiliently deforming the tine and disengaging it from the cooperating shoulder.

United States Patent [451 May 23, 1972 Hammell et a].

[54] SPRING RECEPTACLE CONTACT AND HOUSING THEREFOR 721 inventors:Kemper Martel lhmlnell, Harrisburg;

[73] Assignee: AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa.

221 Filed: Sept. 4, 1970 2] Appl. No.1 69,696

Primary Examiner--Marvin A. Champion Assistant Examiner-Robert A. HaferAnorney-William J. Keating, Ronald D. Grefe, Gerald K. Kita, FrederickW. Raring, Jay L. Seitchik and John P. Vandenburg Karl Lester Klylor,Middletown, both of ABSTRACT A spring receptacle contact and a housingtherefor, the contact including a pair of resilient cantilever springfingers which cooperate to provide a receptacle. The fingers are eachprovided with a button compressibly engaged on opposed sides of ahousing recess into which the spring contact is inserted. The contact isfurther'provided with a tab in spaced relationship from a pair of flaps.Together, the tab and flaps are crimped over an electrical post whichprojects from the housing recess. The receptacle contact is furtherprovided with an elongated embosed base which terminates in a generallyT-shaped end portion which seats laterally within the housing recess.Such end portion additionally carries a tine which abuts against ashoulder in the housing to prevent withdrawal of the contact receptacle.A pair of diagonally projecting levers compressibly engage against aside of the housing recess for seating the longitudinal base of thereceptacle contact laterally against an opposed side of the housingrecess. Additionally, the levers abut against a shoulder provided in thehousing recess to lock the recess to lock the receptacle contacttherein. To remove the receptacle contact, a suitable tool is insertedinto the housing recess for resiliently deforming the tine anddisengaging it from the cooperating shoulder.

7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures Patented May 23 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 11.

INVENTOR KEMPER MARTEL HAMMELL KARL LESTER KAYLOR g 5 BY %JIO L%IPatented May 23, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 SPRING RECEPTACLE CONTACT ANDHOUSING THEREFOR FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates toan electrical spring receptacle contact which is precision aligned andrigidly supported against movement within a recess of a housing, whichcontact is positively locked in place to prevent removal thereof fromthe housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS According to thepreferred embodiments, the present invention comprises a springreceptacle contact and a housing therefor. The contact is characterizedby a pair of cooperating cantilever spring fingers each of which areprovided with a projecting button or knob. The knobs engage againstopposed sidewalls of a housing recess, laterally supporting the contacttherewithin. An elongated embossed base extends longitudinally of thecontacts and is provided with a T-shaped end portion bridging laterallyacross the housing recess to additionally provide lateral support forthe contact. A tine projects from the end portion and engages against acooperating shoulder provided in the housing, thereby preventing removalof the contact from the housing recess. A pair of diagonally projectingresilient levers compressibly engage against a sidewall of the housingrecess for maintaining the elongated base seated in abutment against anopposed sidewall of the housing. Thus the contact is precision alignedwithin the housing recess and is laterally supported on all sides.Additionally, the levers abut against a cooperating shoulder provided inthe housing to lockably retain the contact in place. To remove thecontact, a suitable tool is inserted into the housing recess,resiliently deforming the tine and disengaging it from its cooperatingshoulder.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the presentinvention to provide a spring receptacle contact in laterally supported,precision alignment within a recess of a housing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a springreceptacle contact which is laterally supported within a recess of ahousing and resiliently locked in place by a tine cooperating with ashoulder provided in the housing recess.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a springreceptacle contact including a base and a pair of resilient levers incompressive engagement against opposed sidewalls of a housing recess,thus cooperating to laterally support the contact therein.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a springreceptacle contact having an embossed elongated base terminating in aTshaped end portion which laterally bridges a housing recess forlaterally supporting and aligning the contact within the recess.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a springreceptacle contact laterally supported and precision aligned with ahousing recess, with an electrical post fixedly secured at two locationsto the contact.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a springreceptacle contact having a pair of resilient spring fingers eachprovided with a projecting knob which compressibly engages against thesidewall of a housing recess to laterally support the contact within therecess.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a housing forreceiving a precision aligned, laterally supported contact therein,wherein the contact is resiliently locked in place within the housing.

Other objects and many attendant advantages of the present inventionwill become apparent upon perusal of the following detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an enlarged plan view of aspring receptacle contact according to the present invention; 1

FIG. 2 is an elevation of the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG.1; Y

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view illustrating a flattened unitaryconstruction of the contact shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section illustrating thecontact of FIG. I mounted 'in a recess of a housing;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

,FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 8 8 of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With more particularreference to FIG. 3 of the drawings, there is indicated generally at 1 aflattened unitary construction resilient spring receptacle contactaccording to the invention. The contactl is characterized by a pair ofelongated, generally trapezoidal shaped spring fingers 2 and 4respectively provided with buttons 6 and 8 adjacent to correspondingends of the fingers. The fingers 2 and 4 are respectively provided withelongated tapered outer surfaces 10 and 12 which terminate in chamferedterminal end portions 14 and 16. The ends of the spring fingers adjacentto the buttons 6 and 8 are integrally provided on either side of a web18 extending therebetween. Between the spaced fingers 2 and 4, isprovided an elongated generally rectangular base 20 extendinglongitudinally of and in spaced relationship with respect to each of thefingers 2 and 4. The elongated base 20 is integral with the web 18 andincludes an elongated embossment 22, extending longitudinally of thebase 20 and into a portion of the web 18. The base 20 additionallyterminates in a generally T-shaped end portion 24 having generallyplanar, parallel side edges 26 and 28 for a purpose to be describedhereinafter. A resilient tine 30 is partially severed from the T-shapedend portion and extends generally along the longitudinal axis of theelongated base 20. The partially severed configuration of the tine alsoprojects toward the web 18 located at the opposite end of the base 20from the T-shaped end portion 24.

An elongated notch 32, provided generally adjacent to the button 6,extends generally diagonally toward the web 18. The diagonallyextendingnotch 32 defines a generally elongated, diagonally projectinglever 34, which tapers to a generally planar edge 36 extendingperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongated base 20. Insimilar fashion, the end of resilient finger 4 adjacent to the button 8is provided with an elongated, generally diagonally extending notch 38similar in configuration to that of the notch 32. The notch 38 definesan elongated diagonally projecting lever 40, similar in configuration tothe lever 34 and tapering to terminate in a generally planar edge 42, inline with the corresponding edge 36 of the lever 34 and perpendicular tothe longitudinal axis of the elongated base 20. i p

The resilient levers 34 and 40 additionally include generally converginglateral side edges 44 and 46, respectively. The edges 44 and 46 areimmediately adjacent to enlarged V- shaped notches 48 and 50 whichdefine therebetween a relatively narrow dimensioned neck portion 52 ofthe web 18. Immediately adjacent to the notch portion 48 is a laterallyprojecting, generally trapezoidal flap 54, cooperating with a similarlaterally projecting flap 56 adjacent to the corresponding V-shapednotch portion 50. The flaps 54 and 56 project in opposite directionslaterally of a narrow terminal end portion 58 of the web 18 integralwith the flaps. For example, the terminal end 58 may be integral with acarrier strip (not shown).

Typically, the contact 1 is fabricated from a single stripofelectrically conducting material by a stamping and forming operationwhich necessitates the use of a carrier strip for conveying the materialthrough successive stages of the stamping and forming operation. 7

Generally centrally of the web 18 is provided a projecting tab 60. Thetab 60 is partially severed from the web 18 and extends generallylongitudinally of the base 20. The tab 60 additionally is locatedadjacent to an end of the embossment 22 and is in spaced relationshipfrom the flaps 54 and 56.

Withmore particular reference being made to FIGS. 1 and 2, the completedcontact 1 will be shown and described in detail. Thus, FIG. 1 shows anelongated electrical post 62, generally in alignment with thelongitudinal axis of the elongated base and projecting from the terminalend 58 of the web 18. One end portion of the post 62 is provided with agenerally rectangular, shallow notch 64 receiving the tab 60 therein.More particularly, the tab 60 is deformed, by crimping, for example, toresiliently grip the notched end portion of the post 62. Additionally,the flaps 54 and 56 are folded to overlie the post 62, the flaps beingcrimped in gripping relationship on the post. The overlying tab 60 andthe flaps 54 and 56 rigidly secure the post 62 in place on the contact 1and support the post 62 at spaced locations, thereby precision aligningthe post with respect to the contact and restraining it from motionrelative to the contact.

As shown in both FIGS. '1 and 2, the fingers 2 and 4 are folded alongthe lines 66 indicated in FIG. 3 to form the web portion 18 into agenerally U-shaped channel configuration partially circumscribing thetab 60 and the notched end portion 64 of the post 62 therein. Moreparticularly, the levers 34 and 40 are in parallel opposed planes oneither side of the tab 60. The levers also extend diagonally indirections away from the plane of the base 20. Additionally, the buttons6 and 8 will project outwardly on the opposed sides of the U-shapedchannel thus defined. Additionally, the bend lines 66 generally convergein the area of the neck portion 52 so that the channel has a narrowedU-shaped configuration 66 immediately adjacent to the folded over andcrimped flaps 54 and 56. Such reduced channel section 66 laterallysupports the post 52 preventing motion thereof with respect to thecontact 1.

Still with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the fingers 2 and 4 are eachprovided with a reversely bent configuration. More particularly, thefingers are bent at 68 and 70 diagonally toward each other. The fingersare additionally reversely bent in diverging diagonal relationship,generally at the locations indicated at 72 and 74 respectively. Thus,the chamfered end portions 14 and 16 provide a flared entryway overlyingthe T- shaped end portion 24 of the base. The reversely bent locations74 and 72 provide a reduced width receptacle contact area for anelectrical post to be inserted therebetween. Thus, the fingers 2 and 4provide resilient cantilever spring fingers overlying the basev 20. Thefingers are characterized by a flared entryway and a reduced widthreceptacle contact area for-resiliently gripping an electrical postremovably inserted therebetweemTo complete the contact, the tine is bentto project from the surface of the base 20 in a direction opposite tothe location of the fingers 2 and 4 which overlie the base 20.

The. base 20 accordingly overlies the projecting tine when the fingers 2and 4 overlie the base.

As shown in FIG. 4, taken inconjunction with FIG. 5, a portion of ahousing is generally indicated at 76. One planar surface 78 of thehousing is provided with a recess having oping 76. Yet with reference toFIG. 4, the flared entryway formed by the end portions 14 and 16 of thespring fingers are immediately adjacent to areduced diameter bore 84provided in the planar surface 86 of the housing 76. More particularly,

the bore 84 is provided with a tapered counterbore 88 and is incommunication with the recess formed by, the sidewalls 80 and 82. Forexample, an electrical contact post (not shown) may be inserted throughthe counterbore 88 and between the flared end portions 14 and 16 of thecontact 1. Additionally, such post will be resiliently gripped betweenthe reversely bent narrowed portions 72 and 74 of the spring fingers.

With more particular reference to FIG. 5, the remaining structuralfeatures of the housing 76 will be described in detail. Thus, a pair ofopposed sidewalls 90 and 92 extend generally perpendicular to theparallel walls 80 and 82 of the recess. A planar shoulder portion 94 isperpendicular to the posed parallel planar sidewalls and 82, As shown inFIG. 4,

the contact 1 is, inserted in the recess with buttons 6 and 8compressibly impinged against the parallel sidewalls 80 and 82 andproviding lateral support for the contact. Additionally, the parallelside edges 26 and 28 of the T-shaped end portion extend laterally of therecess and are in adjacent proximity to the walls 80 and 82, furtherproviding lateral support for and alignment of the contact. Thus, theedges 26. and 28 cooperate with the buttons 6 and 8 to laterally supportand maintain the contact 1 in precision alignment within the recess ofthe housplanar sidewall and extends between the sidewalls 90 anda secondsidewall 96. A chamfer 98 is provided at the intersection of the planarsurface 78 and the sidewall 96. In similar fashion, a chamfer 100 isprovided at the junction of the surface 78 and the sidewall 92 oppositeto the chamfer 98. Additionally, a recess is provided in the planarsurface 86 of the housing 76 in spaced relationship to the counterbore88. The" recess 102 additionally communicates laterally with the recessalong a portion of the sidewall 92 and terminates in a perpendicularshoulder 104. When the contact 1 is inserted within the recess formed inthe surface 78, the chamfer 100 will engage against the projecting tine30 resiliently bending the base 20 in cantilever action toward thespring fingers. 72 and 74 allowing further insertion of the contact 1.During such insertion, the tine 30 will slidably follow along the planarsidewall 92 until it registers within the recess 102. The tine 30 willthen impinge against the cooperating shoulder 104 preventing removal ofthe contact 1 once insertedl Also, as the contact 1 is inserted, thechamfer 98 will impinge on the levers 34 and 40 resiliently deformingthem in cantilever action allowing further insertion of the contact 1until eachof the levers, which project longitudinally of the contacttoward the flared entryway and the T- shaped end portion, are impingedagainst the shoulder 94. At the same tine that-the edges 36 and 42 ofthe levers impinge against the cooperating shoulder 94, the tang 30 willregister in the recess 102 and impinge against the shoulder 104. Thus,the levers cooperate with the tang 30to lockingly retain the contact 1'within the recess of the housing 76. Additionally, the levers 34 and 40will be resiliently compressed against the sidewall 96 forcing thelongitudinal base 20 of the contact to seat compressibly against thesidewall 92. Thus, the contact 1 is laterally supported within therecess by the cooperating base 92 and the pair of levers 34 and 40.

Other embodiments and modifications of the present invention will becomeapparent from the scope of the appended claims. For example, to removethe contact 1, a suitable tool is inserted into the recess 102 toresiliently deform the tine 30 and disengage the same from the shoulder104. This allows removal of the contact from the recess provided in theplanar surface 78 with the tine thus slidably. following along theplanar sidewall 92 of the recess during removal of the contact. What isclaimed is: I 1.. A resilient spring receptacle contact, comprising: anelongated base having an integral T-shaped end portion, a pair ofelongated resilient fingers overlying said base and defining a contactreceptacle, said resilient fingers extending generally longitudinally ofsaid elongated base and being reversely bent in a direction generallylongitudinally of said elongated base .to define a flared entryway ofsaid receptacle, said entryway overlying said T-shaped end portion, eachof said elongated fingers including a generally elongated leverprojecting generally forwardly of a longitudinal axis of a correspondingelongated finger and generally toward said flared entryway and saidT-shaped end portion each one of said levers being cantilever mounted ona corresponding spring finger, each of said spring fingers including anotch portion defining a corresponding'projecting lever, a web joiningsaid spring fingers with said base, said base and said T-shaped endportion and said web together defining a bottom wall of a generally U-shaped channel, one of said spring fingers defining a sidewall of saidgenerally U-shaped channel, and the other of said spring fingersdefining another sidewall of said generally U- shaped channel, saidsidewallsbeing in mutual opposed relationship and connected to saidbottom wall in order to form said generally U-shaped channel.

2. The structure as recited in claim 1, and further including: a tine onsaid T-shaped end portion projecting from said bottom wall of saidU-shaped channel, said bottom wall of said U- shaped channel generallyoverlying said tine, and said entryway overlying said bottom wall.

- 3. The structure as recited in claim 2, and further including: araised elongated embossment extending longitudinally of said base.

4. The structure as recited in claim 2, and further including:electrical post means projecting longitudinally of said base, andconnection means on said web for electrically connecting said electricalpost means to said spring receptacle contact at two spaced locations.

5. The structure as recited in claim 4, wherein, said connection meansincludes: a tab partiallysevered from said web and engagable on saidpost means, and a pair of flaps in spaced relationship with respect tosaid tab and wrappingly engaged on said post means, said post meansbeing secured at one of said locations by said tab and at another ofsaid locations by said flaps.

6. The combination of a spring receptacle contact as recited in claim 1,lockingly secured in a recess provided in a housing, comprising: ahousing including a recess receiving said spring receptacle contact, afirst sidewall of said housing recess including a first shoulderinternally of said housing recess, a second sidewall of said housingrecess including a second shoulder internally of said housing recess,said contact being insertable in said housing recess between said firstand said second sidewalls of said housing recess, said tine in abutmentagainst said first shoulder, at least one of said levers in abutmentagainst said second shoulder, said base seated against said firstsidewall of said recess, and at least one of said levers in compressionagainst said second sidewall of said recess and forcing said base inseated relationship. on said first sidewall of said recess.

7. The structure as recited in claim 6, and further including: a thirdsidewall and a fourth sidewall of said housing recess, said T-shaped endportion of said spring receptacle contact extending between said thirdsidewall and said fourth sidewall to laterally support and align saidspring receptacle contact in said housing recess.

1. A resilient spring receptacle contact, comprising: an elongated basehaving an integral T-shaped end portion, a pair of elongated resilientfingers overlying said base and defining a contact receptacle, saidresilient fingers extending generally longitudinally of said elongatedbase and being reversely bent in a direction generally longitudinally ofsaid elongated base to define a flared entryway of said receptacle, saidentryway overlying said T-shaped end portion, each of said elongatedfingers including a generally elongated lever projecting generallyforwardly of a longitudinal axis of a corresponding elongated finger andgenerally toward said flared entryway and said T-shaped end portion ,each one of said levers being cantilever mounted on a correspondingspring finger, each of said spring fingers including a notch portiondefining a corresponding projecting lever, a web joining said springfingers with said base, said base and said T-shaped end portion and saidweb together defining a bottom wall of a generally U-shaped channel, oneof said spring fingers defining a sidewall of said generally U-shapedchannel, and the other of said spring fingers defining another sidewallof said generally U-shaped channel, said sidewalls being in mutualopposed relationship and connected to said bottom wall in order to formsaid generally U-shaped channel.
 2. The structure as recited in claim 1,and further including: a tine on said T-shaped end portion projectingfrom said bottom wall of said U-shaped channel, said bottom wall of saidU-shaped channel generally overlying said tine, and said entrywayoverlying said bottom wall.
 3. The structure as recited in claim 2, andfurther including: a raised elongated embossment extendinglongitudinally of said base.
 4. The structure as recited in claim 2, andfurther including: electrical post means projecting longitudinally ofsaid base, and connection means on said web for electrically connectingsaid electrical post means to said spring receptacle contact at twospaced locations.
 5. The structure as recited in claim 4, wherein, saidconnection means includes: a tab partially severed from said web andengagable on said post means, and a pair of flaps in spaced relationshipwith respect to said tab and wrappingly engaged on said post means, saidpost means being secured at one of said locations by said tab and atanother of said locations by said flaps.
 6. The combination of a springreceptacle contact as recited in claim 1, lockingly secured in a recessprovided in a housing, comprising: a housing including a recessreceiving said spring receptacle contact, a first sidewall of saidhousing recess including a first shoulder internally of said housingrecess, a second sidewall of said housing recess including a secondshoulder internally of said housing recess, said contact beinginsertable in said housing recess between said first and said secondsidewalls of said housing recess, said tine in abutment against saidfirst shoulder, at least one of said levers in abutment against saidsecond shoulder, said base seated against said first sidewall of saidrecess, and at least one of said levers in compression against saidsecond sidewall of said recess and forcing said base in seatedrelationship on said first sidewall of said recess.
 7. The structure asrecited in claim 6, and further including: a third sidewall and a fourthsidewall of said housing recess, said T-shaped end portion of saidspring receptacle contact extending between said third sidewall and saidfourth sidewall to laterally support and align said spring receptaclecontact in said housing recess.